Eating sweet snacks: gender differences in attitudes and behaviour

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Behavioral Science
• Nutrition Psychology

Background:

• Understanding gender differences in dietary behaviors is crucial for targeted interventions.
• The Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) provides a framework for examining behavioral intentions and actions.
• Sweet snack consumption is a common behavior with potential health implications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate gender differences in the components of the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) concerning sweet snack consumption.
• To determine the role of TRA components in predicting sweet-snacking behavior in men and women.
• To explore gender-specific influences on intentions to consume sweet snacks.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 65 women and 64 men who completed questionnaires on attitudes and behaviors towards eating sweet snacks.
• Assessment of TRA components including attitudes, subjective norms, and behavioral intentions.
• Utilized the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire to measure restraint and snacking behaviors.

Main Results:

• Women exhibited greater ambivalence towards sweet snacks, perceiving them as less healthy yet more pleasant compared to men.
• No significant gender differences were found in overall behavioral intention or key TRA components like subjective norms.
• Women reported higher levels of dietary restraint, particularly concerning snacking, but snacked with similar frequency to men.

Conclusions:

• Gender moderates the predictive power of TRA components on sweet snack intentions.
• Women's intentions to eat sweet snacks were influenced by perceived social pressure and attitudes.
• Men's sweet-snacking intentions were primarily predicted by attitudes, suggesting less susceptibility to social pressure compared to women.